Straight Talk Wireless: New Unlimited Phone Plan for $25, $200 for new phone after a year so pay $300 get $200 back! Verizon network.

[rruff]

50gb will be spent in 10 days with daily use. Also, clear view of Northern sky might not work in National forest spots.

I checked my use at home and it was 60GB for one month. Starlink charges $1/GB if you go over. I like camping in open areas even in summer, so I don't think trees will be an issue. Plus, I prefer to camp in places where cell coverage doesn't exist.

Videos are the big data hog, so if you can avoid those it helps a lot. I've never had a streaming service, but is there a way to download their movies in town if you are a member?

Currently all I have in the boonies is 5GB of phone (no hotspot) and that rarely has a signal.

 

[twomountainlions]

I checked my use at home and it was 60GB for one month. Starlink charges $1/GB if you go over. I like camping in open areas even in summer, so I don't think trees will be an issue. Plus, I prefer to camp in places where cell coverage doesn't exist.

Videos are the big data hog, so if you can avoid those it helps a lot. I've never had a streaming service, but is there a way to download their movies in town if you are a member?

Currently all I have in the boonies is 5GB of phone (no hotspot) and that rarely has a signal.

I don't mind not having cell coverage for a while...
If watching even basic youtube videos data goes fast.. plus I think there are provider shenaningans in how they count data.
Starlink mini also needs 60 watt to run I believe, so there's extra power drain. And stuff cant be used for a phone number, still need to pay a provider to have the kind of phone thats accepted for banking (most dont accept free voIP numbers) and phone connection away from the rig.
I dont have any cell signal may be only 15-20% of the time now, they had greatly expanded coverage all over the country. If you hardly ever get coverage Starlink might work.

 

[bullfrog !]

We used Starlink while living in a remote part of Utah working for the National Park Service. It did consume power and was expensive. Finding clear sky and set up was fairly easy. It did take several days to stop the billing when we paused it even though we were not using the service.

 

[rruff]

Starlink mini also needs 60 watt to run I believe, so there's extra power drain.

Less than 30W typically, but yes, it's something. Blocking ads should help on data. And banking can be done through laptop, tablet, etc.

It's really just that I've become accustomed to getting online when I'm home, but don't miss it when I can't get it... but these have been short 2-3 week trips so far. I was a full time vagabond through the 90s and early 2000s and never had cell or internet when camping, so kinda wondering if that would be best. Less "noise". I can still access it when I go to town.

 

[twomountainlions]

Less than 30W typically, but yes, it's something. Blocking ads should help on data. And banking can be done through laptop, tablet, etc.

It's really just that I've become accustomed to getting online when I'm home, but don't miss it when I can't get it... but these have been short 2-3 week trips so far. I was a full time vagabond through the 90s and early 2000s and never had cell or internet when camping, so kinda wondering if that would be best. Less "noise". I can still access it when I go to town.

When I mentioned banking I meant that now banks tie access to a phone number and require one on file, and most of them don't accept stuff like google voice anymore, they want actual cell number. Though you might be able to port your existing cell number already on file with financial institutions to Google voice or similar, then the number would be already considered verified by them and can just continue keeping it on file, they won't know its been ported to voIP

 

[twomountainlions]

They are rolling out Starlink Direct to Cell service, which will be regular already existing cellphones using satellite service in otherwise dead spots. It works by satellites beaming cell signal to earth acting as cell towers. Seems like it will be an add-on with cell providers.
Seems like T mobile will be the first one to deploy it. ATT and verizon filed opposition with FCC in August but I have a feeling this won't fly well for them now.